Second Candidate for Israel Presidency is Lifelong Friend of Ben Zvi

Joseph Sprinzak, Speaker of the Israel Parliament announced today at the opening of the winter session that there were two candidates for the Presidential election to be held in the Knesset next week–incumbent Itzhak Ben Zvi and Herut candidate Joseph Joel Rivlin.

Jerusalem -born Rivlin. 68, is a lecturer in Arabic literature at the Hebrew Undersecretary and a lifelong friend of President Ben Zvi, whom he warmly congratulated when the caller received the endorsement of ten parties inside and outside the government coalition Rivlin told newsmen that he was running–with no chance of election–on the principle that the President must relinquish his party affiliation when elected. President Ben Zvi offered the support of the Herut on condition he renounce affiliation with the Mapai Party if elected, refused to sever party lies he has held for half a century.